Michelangelo & the Meaning of the New Year

5774 or 2014? The theological debate behind the artist’s masterpiece.

Of all the masterpieces created by Michelangelo surely none is more universally acclaimed than his fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel depicting the creation of Adam.

What most people don’t know, however, is the fascinating story behind Michelangelo’s choice of subject matter – a decision motivated by the artist’s disagreement with the Pope of his time that has relevance to this day as we welcome a new year on what is commonly called the secular calendar.

Together with most of the Western world, we will start dating our checks and our schedules with the indication that we have moved on from 2013 to 2014. As part of a much larger society’s way of noting the passage of time, I too simply have no choice, even though it doesn’t agree with my reckoning. For me it is now 5774 on the Hebrew calendar. And this discrepancy points to a profound difference of perspective about God and about the meaning of history.

Jews and Judaism are the ones who brought the concept of monotheism to the world. One God created the entire world and all those who inhabit it. The first human being was created in His image and all those who came after carry within them this mark of divinity.

The concept of universalism is intrinsic to the biblical story of creation.

Why did God begin the story of mankind by creating only one person? The Talmud answers so that no man should be able ever to say to his fellow man, “my father is greater than your father” (Sanhedrin 37a). We are all related. One father for all people on earth makes everyone brothers and sisters in the truest sense of the word. Adam was not just one man – he was every man. Christian and Jew, black and white, American and Asian – we are all created by God “in his image.”

The concept of universalism is intrinsic to the biblical story of creation. And that is why Judaism maintains that the record of history must mark the beginning of time from the creation of Adam. It is humanity that gives meaning to creation.

Our calendar does not start counting years from the birth of Abraham, no matter how significant his life might be as our first patriarch. Nor do we claim that the past only becomes worthy of recognition from the time we became a people or even from the moment we received the Torah at Sinai. The year is now 5774. It is the number of years that frame the shared years of the human family.

But that is not the message of the calendar year 2014, whose meaning is steeped in a theological concept. 2014 chooses the birth of Jesus as the moment which offers all subsequent history meaning. By beginning the count of years with this event, there is a clear statement made: What happened before is insignificant.

Christianity replaced a Judaic calendar rooted in a universalistic vision with a particularistic view. Christianity for the longest time taught that salvation can only be achieved through acceptance of Jesus.

Michelangelo’s Defiance of the Church

And that’s where Michelangelo came into the picture.

It was in the early part of the 16th century that Pope Julius the second, wanting to leave an everlasting legacy of his papacy, commissioned Michelangelo to beautify the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. His instructions were clear. He told the prominent artist he wanted frescoes painted that would illustrate the illustrious lives of Jesus and Mary.

Michelangelo had other plans. To achieve them he had to employ a daring ruse. He accepted the task only on condition that no one be allowed to interfere with his work while it was still in progress. To ensure that no one was able to view what he was doing during the 4 ½ years it took to complete the entire project, he had a canvas placed underneath him as he worked on a 60-foot high scaffolding, ostensibly to prevent any dripping of paint to the floor.

Michelangelo completely disregarded the Pope’s orders. 95% of its themes were taken from the Jewish Bible.

When the time came for unveiling his masterpiece, the Pope was dismayed to see that Michelangelo had completely disregarded his orders. The Sistine Chapel ceiling has no Jesus or Mary, nor for that matter any New Testament figures. 95% of its themes are taken from the Jewish Bible, and 5% are pagan!

How Michelangelo was able to get away with his life in the aftermath of his open disobedience to a papal mandate is a fascinating story in its own right, which I develop at great length in the book I co-authored with Roy Doliner, The Sistine Secrets: Michelangelo’s Forbidden Messages in the Heart of the Vatican. What I want to clarify here is Michelangelo’s motivation.

As a young boy, Michelangelo was adopted by Lorenzo de Medici, probably the wealthiest man in the world at the time. Because of his obvious brilliance, Michelangelo was granted the same tutors as those who taught Lorenzo’s own sons. The most prominent of these tutors was Pico della Mirandola, recognized not only for his genius but for his commitment to universalistic ideas and ideals that were far from commonly accepted in his time. Pico acknowledged that many of his views were shaped by his study of Torah and Jewish texts, and these - as well as his great interest in Kabbalah - he passed on to Michelangelo.

Michelangelo’s commission had been to have the Sistine Chapel ceiling convey the same concept as the Christian calendar: history begins with Jesus. But Michelangelo could not allow the reality of mankind’s common beginning, the spirit of universalism that infuses the first chapter of Genesis, to be rendered mute in the most famous of the church’s chapels. And so Michelangelo dared to feature most prominently in his frescoes the stories of the opening chapters of the Bible, beginning with the creation of Adam.

That is how perhaps the most famous painting of Western art came into being. If Michelangelo had to choose the date for this year he would likely agree that 5774 is preferable to 2014.

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About the Author

Rabbi Benjamin Blech, a frequent contributor to Aish, is a Professor of Talmud at Yeshiva University and an internationally recognized educator, religious leader, and lecturer. He is the author of 19 highly acclaimed books with combined sales of over a half million copies, A much sought after speaker, he is available as scholar in residence in your community. See his website at rabbibenjaminblech.com.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 41

(26)
David Mann,
January 17, 2014 11:14 AM

death operated only after the falling out between G-d and Adam

The Greek worldview (look up Lucretius in Wikipedia for instance) is that creation of more complex stuff just happens, that time and chance are necessary and sufficient. The Hebrew worldview (Genesis 1-3 for instance) is that complex stuff has to be created intentionally, that time is not necessary and chance is insufficient. Intelligent people argue for one or the other of these separate and distinct worldviews, and they use largely the same data. It does not matter if some scholar like Maimonides or some scientist like Schroeder or some politician like the Pope argues for the Greek worldview, because G-d has the Hebrew worldview,and His view is correct. One vital part of the Hebrew worldview is that the world (creation) became broken when the relationship between G-d and Adam was broken. Before the rebellion G-d's opinion of creation was that it was "very good". After the rebellion there were thorns and death. This is the foundation for why Jews are committed to "fixing the world"--- it is a reflection of G-d's desire and plan for fixing the world. Read again those covenants that G-d makes in Genesis 3, join with G-d in fixing the world, and hope fervently for the Messiah, who will fully overcome the power of death, the last enemy to be overcome.It is nice that science supports the Hebrew worldview (Pasteur made a good case against spontaneous generation), but it is wonderful that G-d plans to "fix the world", and invites us to help Him do it.

(25)
Joel,
January 5, 2014 7:56 PM

Moses with Horns

Fascinating article. However, before we all see Michelangelo as the founder of the B'Nai Brith and turn him into an Italian rabbi, let me point out that his depiction of Moses has horns, as all Jews have horns. Christianity didn't begin to view Jews as human beings until the European Enlightenment was well underway and the Roman Catholic Church did start to do the right thing until around 60 years ago, when they stopped branding us as Christ Killers.

Anonymous,
January 6, 2014 8:17 PM

karan or keren (horns or rays),

The reason there were horns depicted has to do with a translation that would have been prevalent in Michelangelo's day (I am not denying anti-semitism existed then or now, but just as you would not have him be an Italian rabbi, remember that he would have been working from a translation himself..) Search the web; "horns on Moses" and you'll see the word for horns and rays (of light) are similar.

(24)
Astronomer,
January 4, 2014 3:36 AM

2 Calendars not Mutually Exclusive

One does not have to choose either the secular or Jewish calendar. They are equally valid because they measure two different things. The secular calendar is solar and based on the Earth's orbit around the Sun. The Jewish calendar is lunisolar, with months determined by the lunar cycles. At the same time, it is tied to the solar calendar through the requirement of Passover falling after the Vernal Equinox.

Neither the number 5774 nor 2014 has any significant meaning. Humanity has been on Earth far longer than 5774 years--more like 10,000. And the secular calendar is not Christian or based on a theological concept. It was created by Julius Caesar as the Julian calendar and later modified into the Gregorian calendar. The only reason that modification was done by a pope is that in the 16th century, few people could read, write, or calculate. Astronomy was just being revived in the west. It was actually a group of astronomers, not Pope Gregory, who came up with the changes that put the calendar back in synch with Earth's orbit around the Sun.

A calendar is not a dating system. Today, the number 2014 has little if any meaning. It does not accurately reflect anything historical or theological. Even the Jewish calendar needs a solar calendar that marks the solstices and equinoxes.

Those of us who celebrate New Year's Eve do so to recognize the beginning of a new year and the opportunities it presents. The number itself doesn't really mean anything; it's the hope of a new start that does.

Gerald Schroeder,
January 6, 2014 4:37 PM

Humanity starts with the soul not the body

Homo sapiens have been around for 10's of thousands of years. According to Maimonides in The Guide for the Perplexed (1190) and also the Talmud (400). these beings had the same shape and the same intelligence of humans. Note that this commentary, culled for several verses in the Torah predates by centuries any archaeological evidence that might have made Maimonides bend the Bible to match the science.Those pre-Adam beings lacked the soul of humanity, the neshama. The creation of Adam described in Genesis 1:27, was not Adam's body. It was Adam's soul of humanity, the nesahama. So when a museum or a text book tells us that there were people 10's of thousands of years ago, inventing all sorts of tools and farming, the museum is 100% correct by its definition of a person which is a being that looks like us and has our brains. And with that description of a person, indeed they do appear and exist for vast periods before Biblical Adam. But the Bible's description of a person is slightly different. The Bible's description of a person is a being that looks like us and has our brains and has a neshama. The change with Adam was not physical. It was spiritual. For a descrtiption of the change, take a trip to the British Museum in London. Go to the Mesopotamina wing.These written on the wall is a description of the change in society that occurred immediately after the date of Biblical Adam. The museum does not mention God or neshama or Adam. It does give a date for the change, 5500 years ago, but gives no reason for the sudden strong change in society. The Bible tells us why: the neshama changed how people related one to the other.Note the similarity for the museum's dating and the Biblical dating of this change.

Anonymous,
January 7, 2014 10:09 AM

tzelem elokim vs. neshoma

Notice the difference between 1:27 and 2:7 i think a logical inference would be the verses differentiating between hominids and homo sapiens. I'd also point out Adam vs. Ha'Adam (personal and general).

Anonymous,
January 12, 2014 3:14 AM

One need not fall victim to scientific sophistry

The Secular Calendar is by no means a purely solar calendar, as history testifies, it was a modification made on the existing Julian calendar inducted by Pope Gregory because the date of Easter was radically out of whack with the spring solstice, to the point that if nothing was done Easter would have been in winter. It was not a group of astronomers, but rather a Calabrian doctor Aloysius Lilius who created the mathematical changes for reform. Gregory basically implemented the Council of Trent's requirement for reform. (These are not correct and will have to be changed in the future yet again). It is a mistake to suggest that 2014 has no significance. It might have little significance to the writer, but to Christians around the world, it marks the alleged birth of the founder of their religion. It is an imposition that has little to with secularism as it does for religious totalitarianism. Just as colonial Britain imposed its Anglicisation on countries, Christianity imposes its religious beliefs on humanity. It is subtle and subversive. Centuries of Papal decrees on imposing religiosity on Jews has left its mark. A Calendar is a human means of quantifying time and dates as a way of relating to the world through time. It imposes structure and order on our lives. To relate to the world from a Jewish perspective is to assign ourselves to G-d. The writer claims that humanity, indeed the world has been around longer than 5774. Based on what? Carbon dating? Uranium isotopes? All these so-called scientific means make fundamental assumptions about the universe being an unchanging mass from primordial time. These assumptions are questionable. Dark matter and dark energy abound and no-one knows how they 'fit' into our understanding of the universe. Archaeology makes similar assumptions without the rigorous scientific method, or repeatability to help it. It makes wild extrapolations about all sorts of things which are usually ahistorical and counter intuitive.

(23)
Anonymous,
January 2, 2014 5:40 PM

Almost purchased copy of the painting

When I was stationed in Germany in the Mid-80's my dad and I toured Italy and saw the Sistine Chapel while it was 1/2 way through restoration. Michelangelo was amazing, his statue of the The David is also amazing.

I really wanted to purchase a copy of the painting in the Sistine chapel especially to look at how he represented several bishops but with Christians supposed to believe in the same G-d as we do I couldn't. Seemed majorly wrong to me.

Great Article.

(22)
DovidM,
January 2, 2014 4:42 PM

Pico della Mirandola would have had to have distanced himself from Kabbala or risk being attacked as a heretic.

(21)
Mike,
January 1, 2014 11:41 PM

Good Article

Thank You for reminding us of the Jewish meaning of "New Year". As much fun as secular New Year's Eve is, it lacks the deep meaning of Rosh Hashanah. Rabbi Blech, I appreciate your insight on the differences between 5774 and 2014.

(20)
Alexander Seinfeld,
January 1, 2014 11:21 PM

Pico della Mirandola wasn't a secular humanist

Pico della Mirandola is often called the spokesman for the Renaissance humanism. However, in his magnum opus, Oration on the Dignity of Man, while he speaks of Jews and Kabala, his "universalist" perspective is completely Christian and anti-Jewish:

"I acquired these books at considerable expense and, reading them from beginning to end with the greatest attention and with unrelenting toil, I discovered in them (as God is my witness) not so much the Mosaic as the Christian religion. There was to be found the mystery of the Trinity, the Incarnation of the Word, the divinity of the Messiah; there one might also read of original sin, of its expiation by Christ, of the heavenly Jerusalem, of the fall of the demons, of the orders of the angels, of the pains of purgatory and of hell.....In a word, there is no point of controversy between the Hebrews and ourselves on which the Hebrews cannot be confuted and convinced out of the cabalistic writings, so that no corner is left for them to hide in."

Michelangelo was indeed a student of Pico's, with a universalist message, but that was not a secular universalism, rather a Christian, and ultimately anti-Jewish, one.

sylvia berman,
January 5, 2014 9:57 PM

hello

hi,

are you the same guy who was oart of AISH HATORAH in the bay area of san francisco?

if yes please reply.

(19)
Sondra Brown,
January 1, 2014 11:08 PM

The sistene Chapel

Te book titled "Secrets of the Sistene Chapel" support your article land will fascinate readers

(18)
Al Verdini,
January 1, 2014 9:05 PM

Geological time vs cultural time

With all due respects to differing cultures and religions, how about using science to clarify instead of using culture to separate us? Surely scientists can find the geological age of the earth and use the last 4 digits. Instead of arguing over which group is "correct". Thank you for your consideration.

(17)
Anonymous,
January 1, 2014 8:53 PM

Much Thanks!

THANK YOU RABBI! Blech!I was pondering this very thing this morning. The differences in the 2 calendars.And shall look for the picture that I took in THE SISTINE CHAPEL~ while in Rome. A definite Masterpiece.Still repenting over that... We were admonished not to take flash~ due to the effect on painting. God forgive me.

(16)
Anonymous,
January 1, 2014 8:50 PM

Excellent Article

I've read the book" The Sistine Secrets" which I enjoyed for its scholarship. If you like this article, I know you will enjoy reading the book.

(15)
Lois,
January 1, 2014 8:22 PM

interest

I had the privilege of viewing the painting in1998. What an absolute thrill it was for me. Thank you for giving information that was pretty much unknown to me until your very interesting and informative article.

(14)
Albert Hern,
January 1, 2014 8:00 PM

True begining of creation?

I love your explanation! However, the truth is we cannot be sure about when the first man was created. As we study science we can not deny the existence of dinosaurs and of men who lived more than 6000 years ago, much longer ago than the Hebrew calendar. I personally believe that the bible story and calendar record began when some ancient civilisations in Mesopotamia invented writing. However, your story matches the concept of a universal man which I really enjoy. On the other hand, if you study Christianity more in depth, the reason why Christianity began counting from the time Jesus was bkrn is not accurate. The calendar christians was used beginning from the year they believe redemption from Adam' s fall because of sin took place. These are of course christian concepts just like the Chinese or Persians used a different point in time according to their lore.

Anonymous,
January 2, 2014 4:21 PM

the truth

one of the million reasons Torah is True, is because we are told specifically Who, What, When, Where, Why it was Created by and how. When G-d Created the Trees on the 3rd day, we learn that He created them, not as new, young trees, only as if they were created years beforehand. And it was so with all other things in Creation - universe, animals, etc. This is why others, who don't believe in Creation by a Creator, say that skeletons, nature and others have been around for thousands of years before. Just as we believe our what's written in history books, Jews have written proof by the Creator of Creation. Therefore, all answers of any subject can be found in the Torah - Written and Oral Law.

(13)
Shoshanah,
January 1, 2014 7:39 PM

One can have sight but not vision

That's a quote by Helen Keller. Nowhere in Judaism or Genesis does it say that "creation" began there at 5774 years ago. It starts with the history that is relevant to us today with a good overview of the prehistoric era. If we want to learn about dinosaurs or Persian history, we buy books on them, The Torah is not of that genre. It is how to live life, how to live in Reality, our essence. Any Torah student knows Adam wasn't the first human being on earth and Torah explains that. In depth Torah study even shows Beresheis does not even begin with "In the Beginning" but rather "At the Beginning." Where does it say that happened then? It doesn't. In fact, we know the tree of knowledge was at least 500 years old when Chava was seduced. One dimensional text teaches very little; that's why we have Talmud, Mishna, Gemara.... Jewish thought means we go as far as we want to dig and no further. But digging has no end so neither do we. To understand Judaism, a student must employ Jewish thought. TY for this article. I really enjoyed it and learned something about a painter. CREATION is how we are speaking spirits in G-d's ELOHIM image. kol tuv

(12)
frank zimms,
January 1, 2014 7:27 PM

very informative

just starting to learn about my Jewish background and I find your newsletter and website extremely helpful

(11)
CM Dav,
January 1, 2014 7:17 PM

Coincidence?

Have a question for you...How would you reconcile the birth of Abraham (1948 after Adam) with the birth of the nation of Israel in 1948CE?

(10)
Steve Bostin,
January 1, 2014 6:49 PM

Biblical scholars beg to differ

Several scholars would suggest the world age from creation to be greater. Ussher suggests from O.T. geneologies that creation was 4004 BC. Add 2014, then the sum would be greater than 5774. The suggested total of 6013/6014 years from creation could also be overcooked. Any thoughts on the 6000 years concept of man's so-called dominion under sin before Messiah brings a millenial reign for all mankind?

(9)
Petra,
January 1, 2014 6:48 PM

The Truth never has to be defended. Only proclaimed! Thanks for interesting info.

(8)
jay,
January 1, 2014 5:55 PM

Whoops

Where are the references. This is purely conjecture.

MK,
January 1, 2014 11:56 PM

Seek and you'll probably find...

Given that this is an article on Aish, not in a scholarly journal or a book, my guess is that the references will be found in the book. If you haven't already done so, you might want to check out the companion article here on Aish: The Michelangelo Code, at http://www.aish.com/ci/a/48962531.html, And then there's the book itself. Seek and ye shall...y'know.

Anonymous,
January 2, 2014 1:51 AM

Plenty of references

Read Rabbi Blech's book The Sistine Secrets: Michelangelo’s Forbidden Messages in the Heart of the Vatican. You'll find plenty of references.

Ben Israel,
January 2, 2014 5:46 AM

Where is your evidence that this purely conjecture?

Adriana,
January 2, 2014 8:09 AM

hahaha

These are studies based on documents, you may not like it!

(7)
Marnie,
January 1, 2014 5:50 PM

Great!

Thank you for the fascinating article! It was an interesting read for me as I didn't know much about this.

(6)
Anonymous,
January 1, 2014 5:44 PM

DNA analysis

DNA analysis confirms we are all more or less related in one way or another. And 5774 is a more interesting number than 2014. But that's not the start of history. Good story though.\

Anonymous,
January 1, 2014 11:09 PM

I did not read the year as you did there is a number used 5774 Archaelogy the way to go

loved this

(5)
LD,
January 1, 2014 4:56 PM

Interesting insight into history

Thank you an interesting insight into this event; most everyone appreciates truth in history. If I may pose the matter, I have never considered it before, but was provoked to thought as part of this story, human beings as we know ourselves today were created in the image of God. The wide variety of animals and living non-human creatures were created with a different template or blueprint and purpose. What of other huminoids such as Neanderthals? As an architect I find deeper insights into the mysteries of the Science of Creation and our origins intriguing.

Timothy,
January 1, 2014 7:23 PM

not that simple

There is one concept stretching from a virus to ourselves, and one clear point of divide - the part of us that is truly the image of our creator, is our drive to continue his work. As to Neandertalers, all the evidence indicates they were a _Race_ of humans, and still exist in our ancestry.

EJD,
January 2, 2014 7:46 AM

Us

I, too, LD, have always wondered about Neanderthal and the various other hominids of our human ancestry scientists keep digging up and discovering.

Genesis 1:26-31 speaks of God creating man, male and female. It isn't until Genesis 2:7 that Adam is created and later Eve.

As one reads those passages - I am no Biblical scholar or theologian; I am not able to interpret it, nor would I even presume to do so - but, I wonder if that's where Neanderthal - and all other ancient, anthropological finds of past hominids' skeletons - came from. It truly is a great mystery, one I feel we shall never know, as long as we are here on this Earth.

This is what faith in Him is all about.

(4)
SF,
January 1, 2014 12:34 AM

Thank you!

Thank you for stating "One father for all people on earth makes everyone brothers and sisters in the truest sense of the word" this is the truth, but, sadly, some rabbis are teaching otherwise, which pains me.

Anonymous,
January 1, 2014 10:20 PM

What rabbis think distresses you?

Are you likewise distressed by the mullahs,etc who call Jews unspeakable names?

(3)
Roger Pearlman,
December 30, 2013 3:04 AM

Best referenced 5774 year timeline..

nice article.the RCCF (Recent complex creation framework for understanding science in full context) references 'Legacy of Sinai' by Z. Fendel. the best referenced unbroken timeline from formation of Adam in full stature on Rosh Hashanah Tishrei year 1, to date.

I want to know about the concept of "sin" due to Adam and Eve eating from the Tree of Knowledge. The Christian concept of sin revolves around the fall of the man and the "original sin." Does Judaism view it the same way?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Adam and Eve were punished according to their actions. In other words, God laid down the conditions for Adam and Eve to live in the garden, provided they would not eat from the Tree of Knowledge. However, if they were to eat from that tree they would be punished by experiencing death. (If they had not eaten from the tree, they would have remained immortal.)

This sets down the basic principle in Judaism of Reward and Punishment. Basic to this is that every person has the choice of doing good or bad. When a person chooses "good" – as defined by God – he is able to draw close to God. In other words, every individual has a chance to "gain salvation" through his own actions.

My understanding of Christianity, however, is that the Original Sin has infected all of mankind to the point where individuals are incapable of achieving salvation through their own initiative. Man is "totally depraved" and therefore his only hope of salvation is through the cross.

This belief is contrary to the teachings of Judaism. From the Torah perspective, an individual does not need to rely on anyone else to atone for them. In Judaism, sins can be "erased" altogether by sincere repentance and a firm resolution never to repeat the mistakes.

For more on this, read "Their Hollow Inheritances" by Michael Drazin – www.drazin.com

Yahrtzeit of Moses in 1273 BCE (Jewish year 2488), on the same day of his birth 120 years earlier. (Consequently, "May you live to 120" has become a common Jewish blessing.) Moses was born in Egypt at a time when Pharaoh had decreed that all Jewish baby boys be drowned in the Nile River. His mother set him afloat in a reed basket, where he was -- most ironically -- discovered by Pharaoh's daughter and brought to Pharaoh's palace to be raised. When Moses matured, his heart turned to aid the Jewish people; he killed an Egyptian who was beating a Jew, and he fled to Midian where he married and had two sons. God spoke to Moses at the Burning Bush, instructing him to return to Egypt and persuade Pharaoh to "let My people go." Moses led the Jews through the ten plagues, the Exodus, and the splitting of the Red Sea. Seven weeks later, the Jews arrived at Mount Sinai and received the Torah, the only time in human history that an entire nation experienced Divine revelation. Over the next 40 years, Moses led the Jews through wanderings in the desert, and supervised construction of the Tabernacle. Moses died before being allowed to enter the promised Land of Israel. He is regarded as the greatest prophet of all time.

Lack of gratitude is at the root of discontent. In order to be consistently serene, we must master the attribute of being grateful to the Creator for all His gifts. As the Torah (Deuteronomy 26:11) states, "Rejoice with all the good the Almighty has given you." This does not negate our wanting more. But it does mean that we have a constant feeling of gratitude since as long as we are alive, we always have a list of things for which to be grateful.

[Just before Moses' death] God said to him, "This is the Land that I promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob" (Deuteronomy 34:4).

The Midrash says that Moses pleaded to live long enough to be able to enter the Promised Land. He surrendered his soul only after God instructed him to enter Heaven and inform the Patriarchs that the Israelites had come to their Land and that God had indeed fulfilled His promise to give the Land of Israel to their descendants. To fulfill God's will was dearer to Moses than his craving to enter the Land.

It is only natural to cling to life, and the thought of leaving this world is depressing. However, if a person develops the attitude that he lives only in order to fulfill God's will, then life and death are no longer polar opposites, because he lives to do the will of God, and when that will requires that he leave this world, he will be equally obedient.

The seventh day of Adar is the anniversary of Moses' death. He wanted to enter the Promised Land so that he could fulfill the commandments and thereby have a new opportunity to fulfill the Divine wish. He surrendered his soul willingly when he was told that there was a special commandment for him to perform, one that could only be achieved after leaving this earth.

We refer to Moses as Rabbeinu, our teacher. He not only taught us didactically, but by means of everything he did in his life - and by his death, as well.

Today I shall...

try to dedicate my life to fulfilling the will of God, so that even when that will contradicts my personal desires, I can accept it with serenity.

With stories and insights,
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